Going postal in primary do-over was DOA

Douglas C. Lyons Senior Editorial Writer

March 15, 2008|Douglas C. Lyons Senior Editorial Writer

Florida, Florida, Florida!

It's deja-vu all over again. The Sunshine State continues to live up to its legend. Butterfly ballots, hanging chads, and now primary do-overs - there's not enough muck in the 'Glades to keep fueling the state's burgeoning reputation for messing up presidential elections.

Fortunately, cooler heads in the Democratic Party are prevailing in debunking the idea of a do-over by mail. The proposal is simply lose-lose: It falls far short of resolving the problem of a nasty nomination fight, and it once again reinforces the image of a state that can change the nation's course - for the worse.

The Florida Democratic Party did its part. It suggested the party hire elections and accounting firms to oversee the mailing, collection and counting of more than 4 million ballots for registered Democrats. The recipients would choose between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and mail back the ballot, or take their ballots to one of 50 regional voting centers.

The idea has one plus. Its estimated $12 million cost, which would be paid by private donations, certainly amounts to a cheaper alternative than having the state of Florida do a full-blown "do-over" primary, which has its share of critics, from Gov. Charlie Crist to the Obama campaign.

Still, the get-out-the-vote-by-going-postal idea had "dead on arrival" written all over it. With the exception of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida's congressional Democrats, who include backers of either Barack or Hillary,were non-plussed, to say the least. They denounced and rejected the idea. The Clinton and Obama campaigns weren't thrilled with the proposal, either.

Granted, these are tough times for Democrats. What had expected to be a short campaign for an inevitable nominee has become a protracted political bloodbath that could cost the party its chance of winning the big prize in November. Democrats are desperate for a way out of a morass of their own making, and the big fear now is that a fractious nomination fight only helps Republicans.

That's so Florida.

Remember Rutherford B. Hayes? (Don't feel bad; most of us don't.) In 1876, Hayes became the nation's 21st president in one of the most disputed elections in U.S. history. His razor-thin win over Democrat Samuel Tilden came after late votes from Florida swung the electoral count to the Republican Party nominee by one vote. Tilden had the majority of the popular vote. Sound familiar?

Fast forward to the 2000 election. Most Floridians remember that one. Whether you blame the butterfly ballot, the U.S. Supreme Court or Katherine Harris, the outcome gave the election to a Republican, George W. Bush, and again put Florida on the map for its contribution to an election controversy.

Fortunately, for everybody, the idea of a mail-in do-over in Florida doesn't look like it's getting very far. For starters, it would be easier to shove spent toothpaste back in the tube than to recreate the excitement and zeal of the Jan. 29 vote. A record number of Democrats voted then, knowing full well their votes may not count.

There's also the screw-up factor. Imagine the potential for mischief, outright fraud and political chaos an operation like that might generate. If the state's elections officials had more experience with mail-in voting, the do-over might have had a prayer. But folks, this isn't Oregon. This is Florida.

With the do-over apparently done, the search for solutions shifts away from Florida and Michigan, and moves to the one group of individuals who have the power to rid the party of its problem - the superdelegates.

It's time for them to man-up, woman-up, whatever, and make the decision on who the party's nominee should be. They have the clout to move this impasse toward a conclusion, and they should do it sooner rather than later.

To suggest - OK, I'll come right out and say it - that Florida's primary results shouldn't matter at the Democratic convention isn't exactly politically correct. Every vote should count. But, Florida knew - and apparently didn't care - about the consequences when state lawmakers from both parties approved the bill that bumped up Florida's primary date and put the state in the party's doghouse.

We bought into the benefits of an early primary, even if they came with obvious risks. It's a little late for buyer's remorse now.

So, let the superdelegates make the call, and then the nominee can seat the rogue delegates from Florida and Michigan. If that occurs, every Floridian should thank their lucky stars that we won't make history again.

Douglas C. Lyons can be reached at dlyons@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4638.